It’s $84,500 more than the city budgeted for its top cop’s pay; the position was advertised at $140,500. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing makes about $158,000 a year.

Orr, who is the ultimate financial authority in Detroit, asked the Detroit City Council to approve the upgrade, but the council voted it down Tuesday. No matter. Orr will adjust Craig’s salary via executive order, Nowling said, because when it comes to bringing down crime rates, it’s time to act.

We couldn’t agree more.

At least 375 people were murdered in Detroit last year; more than 1,121 were shot. There have been 3,313 violent deaths in Detroit since 2003.

But Orr missed an opportunity to tie Craig’s compensation to results, a move that could have softened Detroiters’ criticisms. Despite the sense in bringing a heavy hitter into the job, in a nearly bankrupt city prepared to deal harsh blows to pensioners and creditors alike, the sum rankles. And it’s the second whopping salary Orr’s handed out in the last two weeks; Orr’s newly hired deputy, former Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown, will also be paid $225,000.

So why not demand results? It’s common private-sector practice to offer a base salary, with targeted payments (bonuses, most people call them) if goals are met. Police response times improve? There should be a monetary reward for that. The murder rate goes down? Another chunk of pay could be released. And so on, up to the promised $225,000.

Nowling said some stability and consistency of pay was crucial in convincing Craig, or any other national candidate, to come to Detroit. Police chiefs are normally hired by local elected officials, but Craig was hired by Orr, an emergency manager who will likely be gone by September 2014. Craig’s contract is for two years; after that, nothing is certain. (Nowling also notes that Craig’s pay is commensurate with chiefs in cities with comparable crime rates, such as Chicago and Washington, D.C.)

But whether Craig can effect the change he’s promised is a big “if.” The chief, a native Detroiter, is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and well-intentioned, and he has plans to bring policing techniques used successfully in other major American cities to Detroit. But like the enthusiastic, well-intentioned chiefs before him, Craig will helm a department hampered by dwindling resources and intractable disagreements over what police duties sworn officers should or should not be doing. And it all unfolds daily in a city that sometimes seems wedded to gun violence.

Craig met with the Detroit Free Press Editorial Board in May, and spoke of his belief in transparency and accountability, that the department and the people of Detroit are better served when crime stats and department information is public.

We’ll expect Craig to make good on that promise. He must be transparent, accountable, and above all, successful — showing the whole city he’s worth the money.